Immerse yourself in the study of French
Mastering a second language pays off in surprising ways, from improving your memory to increasing your cultural competency. It could even increase your salary.
But one thing is certaine: studying French at Eckerd College in Florida will improve your chances of getting a job or into grad school. The relationships made possible by our small class sizes lead to better learning—and stronger letters of recommendation.
Only@Eckerd
300+ chances to study abroad
Eckerd French majors choose from a variety of language immersion options, from Aix-en-Provence in the South of France to Geneva, Switzerland, French Polynesia, Québec, and the overseas French département of Martinique in the Caribbean. In fact, Eckerd ranks No. 1 for total students who participate in short-term study abroad—more than any other baccalaureate institution in the country.
More of what interests you
Because the average class is 12 students, the French courses you take your junior and senior years can be tailored to your interests. Expect a deep dive into the cultural, political, historical and literary topics you love.
Banner photo: Fort Saint-Jean, Marseille, France, by Willow Hart ’22
In Their Own Words
“The mentoring made Eckerd exceptional [for] both of my majors, especially my French major. Mentors become a part of your college journey [and] also for your future. There were countless times that I would pop into my mentors office…and it would turn into a two-hour conversation. This part is just so unique since it becomes so personal and important to you. I do not think I would have been able to achieve as much as I did without them.”
—Madison Gumprecht, Class of 2021
Beyond the Classroom
Many French majors take advantage of semester- and academic year-long outbound exchange programs. Eckerd has recently partnered with the Catholic University of Lille to offer an exciting new exchange opportunity.
Or you could browse the 300+ study abroad destinations we offer every year, including three-week study trips between semesters.
Not all learning takes place in the classroom and no one understands this better than us. A few recent examples of independent learning among our French majors:
- Under the guidance of a professor, French majors have written papers on lemur conservation in Madagascar, Acadian/Cajun music, and Joan of Arc.
- Others have participated in a practicum where they taught French and francophone cultures to students in a local public elementary school.
Eckerd College is proud to have founded Pi Psi, our chapter of Pi Delta Phi in 2019. This National French Honor Society is the highest academic honor in the field of French, and every year Eckerd students receive this honor for their stellar work at the 300-level and above. Members of Pi Delta Phi add this recognition to their resumé to demonstrate their excellence in French to potential employers; they also have unique opportunities such as study abroad scholarships and access to networking groups via social media.
All students are asked to take at least one designated Reflective Service Learning course, which includes at least 20 hours of service, before graduation, either on campus or internationally. One of our FR 400 courses, Voix d’immigrés, even includes a service learning component, so you can enrich your understanding of immigrants’ experience and fulfill your RSL requirement.
For many French majors, this focus on service continues after graduation, when they join the Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF). Through this program, they live in France or its overseas territories for seven months, leading English conversation groups in French primary schools and receiving a small stipend for living expenses.
Service Pics on FlickrPopular classes
La bande dessinée francophone
The Francophone Graphic Novel explores the French-language graphic novel, from 20th-century classics to the contemporary bande dessinée, with a special focus on women and the immigrant experience.
Existential Crazes and Crises
Existentialism was born in the basement bars of Paris, rising out of the death and despair of the Second World War. You’ll learn about this youth movement by reading the novels and plays of Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Albert Camus and Boris Vian and through the art, films, and music of the time—all in French.
House in Saint-Pierre, Martinique by Maddy Morgen ’21
Outcomes
What can I do with a French degree?
- Advertising copywriter
- Banker
- Customs official
- Diplomat
- Editor
- Intelligence agent
- Journalist
- Language analysist
- Language instructor
- Law enforcement officer
- Lexicographer
- Library scientist
- Linguist
- Mission worker
- Nonprofit or public interest lawyer
- Photographer
- Social worker
- Stenographer
- Translator/Interpreter
Where our French majors go to graduate school
- American University
- Argosy
- George Washington University
- Middlebury College
- University of Southern Mississippi
- University of Tampa
Where our French majors go to work
- Air Canada
- Benq Canada Corporation
- Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts
- Ceridian Corporation
- Citizens’ Network For Foreign Affair
- Credit Suisse
- Democratic Governors Association
- Ecole Tours
- ELS Language Centers
- Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center
- GlaxoSmithKline
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- Merrill
- Monterey Institute Of International Studies
- National Scientific Corporation
- Northwell Health
- Shorecrest Preparatory School
- South Carolina Department Of Natural Resources
- Tech Space Data
- UBS Americas, Inc.
- Udacity
- Unilever Best Foods, Athens
- United Nations, Geneva
